reen walls with peep…holes in them。 Box trees and yew treesstood there trimmed into the form of stars and pyramids； and watersprang from fountains in large grottoes lined with shells。 Allaround stood figures of the most beautiful stone… that could be seenin their clothes as well as in their faces； every flower…bed had adifferent shape； and represented a fish； or a coat of arms； or amonogram。 That was the French part of the garden； and from this partthe visitor came into what appeared like the green； fresh forest；where the trees might grow as they chose； and accordingly they weregreat and glorious。 The grass was green； and beautiful to walk on； andit was regularly cut； and rolled； and swept； and tended。 That wasthe English part of the garden。
〃Old time and new time；〃 said the Count； 〃here they run wellinto one another。 In two years the building itself will put on aproper appearance； there will be a plete metamorphosis in beautyand improvement。 I shall show you the drawings； and I shall show youthe architect； for he is to dine here to…day。〃
〃Charming！〃 said the General。
〃'Tis like Paradise here；〃 said the General's lady； 〃and yonderyou have a knight's castle！〃
〃That's my poultry…house；〃 observed the Count。 〃The pigeons livein the tower； the turkeys in the first floor； but old Elsie rules inthe ground floor。 She has apartments on all sides of her。 Thesitting hens have their own room； and the hens with chickens havetheirs； and the ducks have their own particular door leading to thewater。〃
〃Charming！〃 repeated the General。
And all sailed forth to see these wonderful things。 Old Elsiestood in the room on the ground floor； and by her side stood ArchitectGeorge。 He and Emily now met for the first time after several years；and they met in the poultry…house。
Yes； there he stood； and was handsome enough to be looked at。His face was frank and energetic； he had black shining hair； and asmile about his mouth； which said； 〃I have a brownie that sits in myear； and knows every one of you； inside and out。〃 Old Elsie had pulledoff her wooden shoes； and stood there in her stockings； to do honor tothe noble guests。 The hens clucked； and the cocks crowed； and theducks waddled to and fro； and said； 〃Quack； quack！〃 But the fair； palegirl； the friend of his childhood； the daughter of the General；stood there with a rosy blush on her usually pale cheeks； and her eyesopened wide； and her mouth seemed to speak without uttering a word；and the greeting he received from her was the most beautifulgreeting a young man can desire from a young lady； if they are notrelated； or have not danced many times together； and she and thearchitect had never danced together。
The Count shook hands with him； and introduced him。
〃He is not altogether a stranger； our young friend George。〃
The General's lady bowed to him； and the General's daughter wasvery nearly giving him her hand； but she did not give it to him。
〃Our little Master George！〃 said the General。 〃Old friends！Charming！〃
〃You have bee quite an Italian；〃 said the General's lady；〃and I presume you speak the language like a native？〃
〃My wife sings the language； but she does not speak it；〃observed the General。
At dinner； George sat at the right hand of Emily； whom the Generalhad taken down； while the Count led in the General's lady。
Mr。 George talked and told of his travels； and he could talk well；and was the life and soul of the table； though the old Count couldhave been it too。 Emily sat silent； but she listened； and her eyesgleamed； but she said nothing。
In the verandah； among the flowers； she and George stood together；the rose…bushes concealed them。 And George was speaking again； forhe took the lead now。
〃Many thanks for the kind consideration you showed my old mother；〃he said。 〃I know that you went down to her on the night when my fatherdied； and you stayed with her till his eyes were closed。 Myheartiest thanks！〃
He took Emily's hand and kissed it… he might do so on such anoccasion。 She blushed deeply； but pressed his hand； and looked athim with her dear blue eyes。
〃Your mother was a dear soul！〃 she said。 〃How fond she was ofher son！ And she let me read all your letters； so that I almostbelieve I know you。 How kind you were to me when I was little girl！You used to give me pictures。〃
〃Which you tore in two；〃 said George。
〃No； I have still your drawing of the castle。〃
〃I must build the castle in reality now；〃 said George； and hebecame quite warm at his own words。
The General and the General's lady talked to each other in theirroom about the porter's son… how he knew how to behave； and to expresshimself with the greatest propriety。
〃He might be a tutor；〃 said the General。
〃Intellect！〃 said the General's lady； but she did not say anythingmore。
During the beautiful summer…time Mr。 George several timesvisited the Count at his castle； and he was missed when he did note。
〃How much the good God has given you that he has not given to uspoor mortals；〃 said Emily to him。 〃Are you sure you are verygrateful for it？〃
It flattered George that the lovely young girl should look up tohim； and he thought then that Emily had unusually good abilities。And the General felt more and more convinced that George was nocellar…child。
〃His mother was a very good woman；〃 he observed。 〃It is only rightI should do her that justice now she is in her grave。〃
The summer passed away； and the winter came； again there wastalk about Mr。 George。 He was highly respected； and was received inthe first circles。 The General had met him at a court ball。
And now there was a ball to be given in the General's house forEmily； and could Mr。 George be invited to it？
〃He whom the King invites can be invited by the General also；〃said the General； and drew himself up till he stood quite an inchhigher than before。
Mr。 George was invited； and he came； princes and counts came；and they danced； one better than the other。 But Emily could only danceone dance… the first； for she made a false step… nothing ofconsequence； but her foot hurt her； so that she had to be careful； andleave off dancing； and look at the others。 So she sat and looked on；and the architect stood by her side。
〃I suppose you are giving her the whole history of St。 Peter's；〃said the General； as he passed by； and smiled； like thepersonification of patronage。
With the same patronizing smile he received Mr。 George a fewdays afterwards。 The young man came； no doubt； to return thanks forthe invitation to the ball。 What else could it be？ But indeed therewas something else； something very astonishing and startling。 He spokewords of sheer lunacy； so that the General could hardly believe hisown ears。 It was 〃the height of rhodomontade；〃 an offer； quite aninconceivable offer… Mr。 George came to ask the hand of Emily inmarriage！
〃Man！〃 cried the General； and his brain seemed to be boiling。 〃Idon't understand you at all。 What is it you say？ What is it youwant？ I don't know you。 Sir！ Man！ What possesses you to break intomy house？ And am I to stand here and listen to you？〃 He steppedbackwards into his bed…room； locked the door behind him； and leftMr。 George standing alone。 George stood still for a few minutes； andthen turne